Kate Moughtin, senior internal brand manager and Play It Forward brand ambassador said: “We are proud and excited to be named as the headline sponsor for the Isle of Man Sports Awards. At Microgaming we strongly believe that a healthy body equals a healthy mind, so sport is something that we feel very passionate about.

She added: ‘We have always been huge fans of the Awards and we encourage people to nominate those they believe have excelled in sport over the past year. Given the amount of talent on the Island, I have a feeling that Isle of Man Sport will be inundated with nominations!’

Isle of Man Sport Executive Chairman Gary Corkhill said: ‘Microgaming is a worldwide brand and with their Play It Forward initiative, support the Manx community in many different ways. We are especially excited that they want to be associated with recognising the best that our sportsmen and women have to offer.’

Nominations for the 2017 Awards open on 18 December 2017 and close on Monday 8 January 2018. Download a form here, use the form printed in this week’s local paper or submit a nomination in writing to Isle of Man Sport at the NSC, Groves Road, Douglas, IM2 1RB. Isle of Man Sport invites anyone keen to see the achievements of their sporting heroes recognised to submit a nomination in one of 11 categories:

• Sportsman of the Year• Sportswoman of the Year, • Under 21 Sportsman of the Year• Under 21 Sportswoman of the Year• Disability Sportsperson of the Year• Team of the Year• Sports Administrator of the Year• IOM Sports Ambassador• Coach of the Year• Veteran Sportsperson of the Year• Lifetime Achievement Award

Tickets will be available to book online via the Villa Gaiety box office www.villagaiety.com in early January 2018